09/19/11 kkh

HAYS, Kan. -- Poets, guest speakers, theatre productions and comedians will come to campus for Fort Hays State University's Office of Diversity Affairs "Super Sweet Diversity Week," Oct. 10 to 14.

All events, at all locations, begin at 7:30 p.m.

"Black-Jew Dialogues" will open up the week on Monday, Oct. 10, in the Black and Gold Room, Memorial Union, second floor. This two-actor play will combine fast-paced sketches, improvisations and multimedia to show the history, prejudice and racism that blacks and Jews have experienced. For more information, go to www.theblackjewdialogues.com/.

On Tuesday, Oct. 11, Frank Meeink will speak in the Memorial Union Ballroom. Meeink, who became a racist member of a subculture called "Skinheads" at age 13, was eventually imprisoned, where he befriended men of races he once thought he hated. He could never bring himself to hate people from different races again. For more information, go to www.frankmeeink.com/.

"Incognito," a one-man show starring Michael Fosberg, will come to campus on Wednesday, Oct. 12, in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center.

"'Incognito' is a one-hour theatrical presentation that will take audiences on a compelling journey while covering issues of race, identity, diversity and stereotypes," said George E. Jackson III, coordinator of Diversity Affairs.

Fosberg will will portray more than a dozen characters as he tells the true story of finding his biological father. Raised in a working-class white family, he discovered at age 32 that his long-lost father was African American.

"This entertaining and enlightening tale of self-discovery challenges audiences to carefully examine their assumptions about others," Jackson said. For more information, go to www.incognitotheplay.com/.

On Thursday, Oct. 13, "Exhale: Slam Poetry" will take place in Cody Commons, Memorial Union's lower level. "Exhale," a 90-minute event filled with humor, culture and real-life situations, will feature slam poet Shihan and competition among FHSU students. For more information on Shihan, go to www.shihansback.com/.

The week will close on Friday, Oct. 14, with Guy Branum, comedian and writer for "Chelsea Lately," the late-night talk show hosted by Chelsea Handler that is E! Network's highest-rated show. This event will be in Cody Commons, Memorial Union, lower level. For more information, go to www.guybranum.com/.

Ohter events planned by Diversity Affairs but not part of the "Super Sweet Diversity Week" are Gospel Extravaganza, featuring Rudy Currence, at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8; Bill Birdsong Miller at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7; and Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, at 7:30 p.m on Tuesday, Nov. 15. All these events are in Beach/Schmidt.

For more information, contact Jackson at 785-628-4664 or e-mail him at gejackson@fhsu.edu.